Manchester United reportedly aims to sign a Portuguese defensive midfielder on a free transfer next summer! They plan a complete midfield overhaul, potentially replacing all current players.

Manchester United's current midfield choices include only Casemiro, Ugarte, and Coby Meno, leading Ruben Amorim to reposition captain Bruno Fernandes into the midfield within the 3-4-3 setup. English reports reveal that if Amorim continues coaching, he might overhaul the entire midfield squad in the coming one or two years. To fulfill this plan, he may pursue free transfers, with fellow Portuguese Ruben Neves as a potential target.

Manchester United has long been linked with signing Ruben Neves from Al Hilal, a connection dating back to his time at Wolves. According to Spain's "Fichajes" transfer website, Amorim has personally requested United to bring Neves back to the Premier League.

Ruben Neves has only a few months left on his contract in the Saudi Professional League and is eager to return to the Premier League, having earned enough in the Middle East to provide comfortably for his family. While earning a weekly wage of £410,000 at Al Hilal, he is now willing to accept less than £200,000 per week to come back to Europe.

Reports suggest that Neves’ good relationship with Amorim strengthens Manchester United’s position in the transfer race. United hoped to sign him in the January window, but Al Hilal was unwilling to sell, trying to convince Neves to renew his contract. The club went to great lengths, naming him captain and arranging a family trip to Saudi Arabia’s esports and entertainment city, Qiddiya City.

However, Neves has yet to agree, and negotiations have stalled. Meanwhile, intermediaries have approached Manchester United to promote Neves. His representatives have been in contact with several European clubs, including United, Newcastle, Tottenham, and West Ham, to gauge their interest. Many clubs have expressed a willingness to consider a deal. Neves is open to a January move, but Spanish media say United plans to sign him on a free transfer next summer.

Under these circumstances, Manchester United could still spend on two more midfielders to completely revamp the area. Amorim hopes to have a midfield featuring Neves, Carlos Baleba, Elliot Anderson, or Adam Wharton, which would make his 3-4-3 formation more competitive, unlike the current lack of midfield toughness.

Casemiro’s contract with Manchester United expires at the end of this season. The club does not intend to trigger the one-year extension clause worth £350,000 per week and hopes he will accept a salary cut to below £150,000 per week, but no agreement has been reached. Meno and Ugarte, one focused only on offense and the other only on defense, are not part of Amorim’s long-term plans.

Stories about Manchester United’s midfield signings next year are abundant, with various experts offering different opinions. Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, who is very familiar with Baleba’s team, has been a strong advocate for the 21-year-old Cameroonian defensive midfielder.

Romano insists Baleba remains Manchester United’s top choice. "Look, if United were to pick the best new signing, it would definitely be Baleba; they really like him," Romano said. "Anderson and Wharton are also on the list, but Baleba has always been considered Amorim’s primary target."

If Baleba continues to be United’s first choice based on this season’s performance, the club’s transfer decisions may face criticism. His displays at Brighton have been very poor, which has increased the appeal of rumors about Anderson’s transfer. If Baleba cannot regain form in the new year, it’s hard to imagine United taking the risk of spending big on him.

Romano also acknowledged: "Manchester United has two lists — one with top-tier targets like Baleba, Anderson, and Wharton. These players are considered elite targets but are very difficult to acquire and unlikely to join in January, probably coming in the summer instead. For the January transfer window, it’s more about opportunistic moves."